The ICE Professional Review Interview: Your Opportunity to Shine
The interview is a core part of the ICE Professional Review.
It is where reviewers assess how you think, how you explain your work, and whether you are operating at the level required for professional qualification.
For many candidates, this is the most challenging part of the process. Not because of technical knowledge, but because of how clearly they can explain their role, their decisions, and their level of responsibility.
Purpose of the interview
The interview is used to assess you as a professional engineer.
Reviewers are looking to understand:
how you approach engineering problems
how you make and justify decisions
how well you understand your responsibilities
how clearly you can communicate your experience
It is based on your submission, but it goes further. The report shows what you have done. The interview shows how you think.
Structure of the interview
Presentation
You begin with a presentation.
15 minutes for IEng and CEng
5 to 10 minutes for CPRP
The purpose is not to repeat your report. It is to highlight key examples that demonstrate your role, your decisions, and your development.
Questions and discussion
After the presentation, the interview becomes a structured discussion.
Reviewers will explore:
your projects
your decisions
your understanding of the attributes
You are expected to do most of the talking. As a guide, you should be speaking for the majority of the time, explaining your actions and reasoning.
Communication task
The communication task follows the interview and is assessed separately. It focuses on written communication rather than verbal discussion.
What reviewers are looking for
Technical knowledge is only part of the assessment.
Reviewers are primarily interested in:
Clarity
Can you explain your role and decisions clearly?
Judgement
Do you understand why decisions were made and what alternatives were considered?
Responsibility
Are you operating at the level expected for your grade?
Professional awareness
Do you understand health and safety, sustainability, and ethical responsibilities?
Typical areas of questioning
Questions are tailored to your submission, but often focus on:
technical challenges and how you approached them
key decisions and why they were made
risk and safety considerations
sustainability and long-term impact
ethical situations and professional responsibility
There is no fixed set of questions. The direction of the interview depends on how you answer.
What strong candidates do well
explain their role clearly using “I” rather than “we”
keep answers structured and focused
justify decisions rather than just describing them
acknowledge challenges and reflect on outcomes
stay controlled under questioning
Common issues
giving long, unfocused answers
describing the project rather than your role
not explaining decision-making
becoming defensive when challenged
struggling to adapt explanations to the question
Preparing for the interview
Preparation should focus on how you communicate your experience, not just what you have done.
Know your report
You should be able to explain:
your role
your key decisions
your level of responsibility
without hesitation.
Prepare your presentation
Focus on a small number of examples that demonstrate multiple attributes.
Keep it clear, structured, and within time.
Practise answering questions
Think through likely areas and practise answering out loud.
Focus on:
clarity
structure
explaining reasoning
Simulate the interview
Practising under realistic conditions is one of the most effective ways to prepare.
It helps you:
manage time
control your answers
get comfortable being questioned
Practical tips
take a moment to think before answering
keep answers concise and structured
avoid unnecessary jargon
be honest if you are unsure, and explain your approach
show awareness of your responsibilities as an engineer
Preparing for your interview
If your review is approaching, the key question is not whether you know your work, but whether you can explain it clearly under pressure.
If you are:
unsure how you will come across in the interview
struggling to structure your answers
or have not practised under realistic conditions
it is worth testing this before your review.
Next step
If you want to practise the interview in a realistic way and get structured feedback:
You will:
complete a full interview simulation
receive detailed feedback on your answers and presentation
understand where you are strong and where you need to improve
